FM26: Surviving Your First Season
Your first season in FM26 can be brutal — here's how to avoid relegation, keep your job, and build for the future.
Surviving a first season in FM26 is about being realistic, staying organised and not doing too much. Learn the squad you inherited, pick a simple tactic, sign only what you need, and give it time.
The survival guide
- Assess your squad — know your best eleven before you change anything
- Pick a simple tactic — a familiar shape with sensible roles beats a complicated one
- Set realistic targets — survival first; trophies are a later problem
- Manage expectations — with the board, the press and the players
- Be patient — most first seasons are won in the second half
The first month
The first month decides how the rest of the season feels. Use it to work out who your best players actually are, identify the one or two positions that are genuinely weak, set up your tactic and let the squad train it, and get the staff you need in place.
Delegate everything you do not want to micromanage. Your assistant can run training and pick opposition instructions perfectly well in season one.
The first transfer window
Don't overhaul the squad. The players you inherited know the club and the league, and cohesion is worth more in the short term than raw ability. Sign for the positions that are genuinely short, add a free-transfer squad player or two for depth, and keep the wage bill intact.
If you are at a small club with no money, the small-club transfer strategies are the ones to read first.
Key decisions
| Area | Safe first-season choice |
|---|---|
| Tactics | 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, balanced mentality, few instructions |
| Transfers | Two or three targeted signings, no wage-structure breaks |
| Training | Delegate to your assistant; focus on fitness and cohesion |
| Team talks | Calm and encouraging by default; save the strong stuff for when it counts |
| Press | Back your players publicly, never criticise them in the media |
When things go wrong
You will lose games. You will have bad runs. Stay calm, don't panic, and stick to the plan — overreacting is what turns a bad month into a sacking.
If you genuinely need to change something, change one thing: a role, a defensive line, one player. Wholesale tactical changes mid-run reset tactical familiarity and make the next five matches worse before they get better.
Common questions
How do you avoid getting sacked in Football Manager?
Meet the board's stated expectations rather than your own ambitions, avoid long losing runs by keeping tactics stable, and manage press and player relationships so the dressing room stays behind you.
Should you change tactics in your first season?
Only carefully. A settled, simple tactic your squad understands is usually worth more than a better tactic they have not trained. Change one element at a time.
What club should you start with in FM26?
For a first save, a mid-table club in a league you know, with a reasonable budget and modest expectations. Bottom-division rebuilds are more fun once you know the game.
How many players should you sign in your first window?
Two or three, for positions that are genuinely weak. Large first-window rebuilds damage cohesion and rarely improve results immediately.
Should you delegate training in FM26?
In your first season, yes. A good assistant manager handles training competently and frees you to focus on tactics, transfers and matchdays.
Try it yourself
Gaffa is a free browser football manager — pick a club, set your tactics and play a full season. No download, no account, nothing to install.
FM26 best tactics → · FM26 board expectations → · FM26 staff roles →